Controller



w. AH. APTHORPE 1,940,834 CONTROLLER l Dec. 26, 1933.

Filed July 5o, 1951 30 a7 JA Ifmfmfw WILUAM H. APTHORPE 72 WMM PatenteclDec. 26, 1933 V l 'y y `corrino'nnicn v William Herbert yApthorpe, V`London,V England, V y i I as'sig'nor ,tov Cambridgev ,Instrument Company, j Limited, London, England, Va corporation of l;

Greatriiain. f q -Y c .Lippuation'` Julyeojisai, serial No. 554,031,

and in Great Britain February 12,711,931

*11, claims.' (ci. 74514) The present inventionv relates to. controllers, plane with ltheidler pulleys .24, 26. The pulley and moreY particularly to recorder-movement 28.is .mounted upon the upper end of a turnable controllers. Y rodor spindle 30, journaled in'asupport 39'that The invention will be explained more fully in is pivvotedVV about a horizontal pivot 4l'. The lower connection with the accompanying drawing, in end of the spindle 30 is provided with a pulley 32 60 whichFig. vl is a perspective view, with parts that is driven'iroma pulley 34, coplanar therebroken away, illustrating the invention in its with, by means oan-endless belt 36. `The belt 36 preferred form; Fig. 2 is a section taken upon may Vbeitensioned by'imeans of ai tension, coil the 1ine'2--2 of Fig. 1, looking in. the direction spring 37. pulling upon the support 39, to hold` it of the arrows; and Fig. 3 is a section taken upon in a'pivotal position as vfar to the right (as 65 the'line 3--3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of viewed in Fig. 2)4 as the belt 36 willfpermit. The T1 Vthe arrows.. ,1 1 pulley 34 is keyed' to a shaft 381that isjcoaxialv An electric meter or other vinstrument of any with the pivots '7 and 9 of the':pointer 2,.- though .well known type is shown provided with a galra certain degree voi? disalinement lisnot 'harm'-` vanometer. pointer vor other deecting member 2 ful. To actuate the pen 8 back and-forthl over 70 that is caused to move back and forth inrethe paperlO, therefore, it is merely necessary to il .spense to varyingy conditions, such 'as tthose drive the shaft orspindle 38....It will now beexcaused by .a varying electric current flowingin plained, therefore, how the movement ofx the a moving coil or winding 6. The galvanometer fshaft or-spindle38 is. controlled from and-:prostructure illustrated is of thepivoted galvanomportion'edcby; the.. deilecting movements-fof the 75 eter type, the pivots being'sh'own'at 7 and-9, but pointer .2. y r the invention is not limited'thereto, as suspended Acup-'shaped, clutch, disc member .58 .is xed or other types of instruments might also'bevemto. the 1shaft' .and acooperating cup-shaped, ployed. A .chief :object'of the invention/"is to clutchldisc'member.60.is'slidable thereon, though provide' a novelsystem .and apparatus for'relay' held againstrotation withv respect thereto. vThe 80 ing the movement of the .movablefpointer 2,101" cup'shaped member 60 is normally'biased down- 1 roi Yany other similar moving: memberpwthout ward, away from the cupfshaped member 58, by

taking a substantial amount of power. 'from the afspring 62 coiled about the shaft .38. Once durinstrument. fing each rotation of a shaft-40,' that is rotated at The relayed movement may be -utilizedpfor constant speed vfrom a motor-driven`or v other 85 many purposes, such'- asV to 'rotate the contact 'gear.42,y or from any other convenientsource'ofJ arm of a rhe'ostator othercontrol'device (not .'power, a cam 64, that .is fixed thereto, engages shown) ,Hbut is illustrated herein, .for concreteone arml66'of a bell-crank lever that is pivoted ness,'as driving a recording pen or readingindi- .at 68,'Y thus forcing the other bell-crank-lever cator 8 over a moving record sheet l0.` The sheet xarm ,'70 upward. vThisupwardfmoyement effects 90 Y l0, asit is advanced over a rotating roll'A 12 from f. a corresponding-,upward movement..of thecupa roll Yl1,- isheld against the roll 12 by a'guide :shaped member 60." The'carn 464 is so shaped, plate 13. w The roll l2 is rotated at constant, .or however, that asthe shaft 40 continues toro-- any other desired, speed, in any. desired'manner, 'tate','itfallows the arms 66 and' '70 yto beforced as by clockwork, .and theadvancev of therecord downwardxagainst the action ofthe spring .'72, 95 sheet 10 over-the rotating roll 12 is effected by coiled about the pivot shaft168, forces the bell-v Y means of sprocket teeth v14v fitting into corre- 'crank-lever. arm 70 downward again, permitting spending openings 16 provided inl the record the spring 62 to return I thecup-shapedy member sheet 10. As 'the pen' travels, in response to to its-flower position-" vThe cupshaped-member movements of the pointer 2, back and forth over occupies its Juppermo'st'position but.v momen- 100 ther novingrecordsheet 10itleaves on the rectarily. 1 y ord sheet a record curve that has 'some correvAt that moment when the cup-shapedmemspon'dencelto the :movements of the pointer. `ber160 occupies itsfupper position, however, it

TheY pen '8 iscarried by a holder '18- that is clamps a clutchball 'll-againstfthev cupeshaped slidably actuated back' and forth in opposite dimember- 58. The twov cup-,shapedv members 58` 105 rections along a'guide rod 20, perpendicular to and'llfandthe ball 'I4 becomethuszmomentarily thedirection of advance of the record-sheet; 10, rigidly boundtog'ether as a unit.` Any force ex-Y byjan 'endless' belt 22. The belt 22 passes over erted at this time upon theball '74, either'fr'om idler fulleys' 24 and -26i-fand, after crossing, the leftor from the" right, will cause the bzra.ll `'14v varound an actuating pulley 28'that i'sin the same tfmove correspondinglyto the right-ortho left,` 110 `ment ofthe: pointer 2 u 45 to" the l'efufinresponsefto'corresponding movefeo - thecup-shapiedrmember 60'fis actuated downward 75 a corresponding, proportional turning movement carrying with it both cup-shaped members 58 Y and 60 and thus causing the partial rotation of the shaft 38 upon which the cup-shaped members 58and60are1r1ounted. .,.y ,o

Such-force upon'v the.Y -ball 74l to -the rights-or the left, as the case may be, is adaptedA to be exerted by arms 54 and 56, respectively-,Mrame ball 74 happens to occupy any but its contralor neutral position. The arms 54, 56, disposed 'be'- tween the cupshaped members 58 and 60; con. r stitute A corresponding armsV .oftwo bell-.crank levers, the other arms ofjwhi'clr are indicated" at 50 and 52. The arms50"'and.52 areja'dapted; once in each cycle of rotationf the-shaftw, to be engaged by two cams 44 and 46, of the same size and shape, and'thatareI-securiedto the shaft 40 in any approved'mannerfas-byset screws 48. Y Y* ..l

The cams 44 and 46 and the bell-crank levers 20 5'0",` 54 and 52', 56faresodesigned that," wheniithe Vcam's' 44 and 46-occupyf the` dotte'd-line'fpositions OfFig A3;'Lthe bellecrank-lever arms; 541,'. 56vsha11 returnthe balli74tfitszne1rtra'1 or.' central position ncer'correspondingto each rotation Yofthe shaft 40E," Asi soon-J as the camsf44fand 46 travel beyondl the saidifdbttecli-line;l positions.. aV spring S`7 6pul1s2 the belIS-cranlc leven arms'f-and` 56 into their normal positions, out. of engagement. with the .ball` 74;." The bellt-crank-lever anus-50, 52 fare, however, .kept bythe spring. 7.6 aiwaysrin engagement Awith the."respective` cams 44, 146.' V:fonce during each rotation Vof-:the shaft-,140, 1therefore;V the bell-cranl-lever .arms 54'andK 56 will cause "the ball 'T4 to return .to itscentral 35 positioniit has;` in; the meantime', become de- -flectedf therefrom bythe: movements; of the: pointer' 2-as` presently to!b'efdescribed:A` Each time that` the ball '74becomes:thus?r returned to'fits -centralpositiongthe? shaft: 3821's turned'bythe 40 cup-shaped members 58 and 60 to a degreeffde'- pendentiupon: the. amount bycwhic'h the-ball 74 had thus-become? displaced frnmaits' central" position andg-ltherefore; upon the unt of'displace- It remains nowA toK describe: how'the'movements "of the ball'l4 frornlits central position are -controlledr in accordance (with. the?` deflectng' movements of the pointeriZLk The ball 7.41is: carried at theflower'end of. a: stirrupi 78'; the upperfend ofi which is Very looselyl connected. at 80 inf'an opening atthe :eXtreme-.'free'endof the pointer'2. Because ofthis. Very loose connection, thev stirrup "7B-"is free' at'all'times tdmcrve.4 tov the: right and ments of!v the pointer. 2,. but permittingaV free movement of the, pointer' `2, without binding; leven thoughthe ball '74 'shouldhappen momentarily lto be clamped by` the'clut'ch discs' 58'l "and 60: j It is thus-"impossible to* injure the instrument:-4

I'n operation, assuming that the pointer-Zhas been' deectedtoward the right, the: ball 74 will "likewisef become defiected'toward theright, land willV then; become clamped, in this: deeet'ed "positiongby tznecup-'shapednnembers raiidft'ili;v .The bell-crank-lever arms 54and 56 will thereupon returnthe 'ba-H74 toits'central'position: reifejcting i "a .slightturningr'of t the`V cupi-.shaped Y members 58 amdfandgof theishaft38 asf a unit'. is soon as 'fbyf the:V spring: V62,-. the ball' '74 becomes released,

vand' is. Y thereupon lleft lfree to become sdeiieoted v again1 in responseg to.v a further deflecting movement' ofthe-pointer 2.;' :Theqturning movement of the-pointer 2 isthus oonstantlyponverted l into '.freeLfmore than half the time.

.shapedlmembers.; it Will. easily free itself* of the shaft 38. -Though the ball '74 is essentially a part of the sensitive pointer 2, the power is thus transmitted through a very simple and relatively inexpensive mechanical arrangement, but withoutany'stressv upon the pointer 2`- 'The operation of'the bell-'crank levers 50, 54 andr-2:56 is so timed by the cams 44, 46, and the V operation of the cup-shaped -members 58, is

Vso"'tiIned by the cam 64, that the pointer 2 is The pointer 2 is itself at no time heldzclamped againstmovement. The actual. operatingrange is about twenty defgrees. on eachside. of the center; but if the cupshaped members'. 58 and 60 should, under abnormal conditions, be rotated through a cony sidera-bleangle;` noV harm can come to the instruine-nt,l for the forces are of the same nature as when-.thepointer is actuated by the galvanometer coil or winding 6. The instrument pivots are uninfiured; particularly as 'thetpivots 'are preferably, asc-before: stated,..in substantial alinement with the shaft 38. The clamping-time cycle, of course, alvanometer or other instrument period. i f 1 Themse ,ofH the: b'allV '74v lreduces sticking, to a 'U minimum, itsfweight andshape being such-that, even with. greasy surfaces on the clamping-.cup-

when thezclamping action is released.` ,I- In'mostuses, the load recorded is shown` by the indicator 8 or a target attached theretofor 'indicating the reading, whilethe pointer 2 merely indicates the' departure: from .balance in some systemsuch' asv aWheatstone bridge...V y

Modifications will occur to personsfskilled in l lthe. art, andall suchfare.' considered 4to fall ywithin thefspiri't andscope; of `the invention 'as' defined in the.' appendedclaims.

Whatis claimedfis: f l. Agdevice'offtheclass describe dl comprising a "i Ishafta member' pivoted7 Vto "move freelyof the shaft.:substantially` aboutithe; axis ofA the shaft,

vmeans@responsive to Varying conditions for mov'- ing the; member abo'utitsy pivot. to.V Varying de- Y grecs, and: means' forY causing the. turning of the sha'itto a 'degree'. predetermined by` theidegree of.' pivotal-"movement vof the member. f

2. A device oi the class described comprising a sliafa:clutch.v disc-.ixedito the" shaft, .aseo- V`ondzclutcliv discslidablealong the shaft'and Xed "iT/:c .to rotate therewith, a member pivoted to move freelyiof the shaft substantially abouttheaxis ofth'e'sliatt, means fiormoyingthe member about its pivot; meansfor'fclutchingthe discs together,'

V`strained' tor follow-fthe-moyement of the deflecto Ving imemberreand disposed between the *c1utch'140 discs, mea-ns vfor periodically slidingthe slidableV disc toward and'ifrornfthe-xed discf'to causegthe Adises to become first clutched together through .the ball.- and thenunclutched, and means for periodicallyreturning ythe ball with the `discs 145 clutchedthereto to a neutral position afterY the ball has-become displaced fromthe neutral position-in responseto the pivotal movement'cfrthe K .'delecting' member.-

4. A device of the class fcomprising'i Hcfs a shaft, a member, means responsive to varying conditions for moving the member to varying degrees, a clutch element for the shaft loosely connected with the member so as freely to follow the movementl of 'the member, and means for actuating the clutch element to a degree predetermined by the degree of movement of the member to cause the turning of the shaft to a degree determined'by the degree of movement of` stantially about the axis of the shaft, a clutch ball loosely suspended from the indicator so as freelyV to follow the movement of the deflecting member and disposed between the clutch discs,

means for periodically sliding theslidable disc toward and from the xed disc to cause the discs to become rst clutched together through the ball and then unclutched, and means for periodically returningthe ball with the discs clutched thereto to a neutral position after the ball has become displaced from the neutral position in response to the pivotal movement of the deecting member.

6. A device of the class described comprising a shaft, a clutch disc fixed to the shaft, a second clutch disc slidable along the shaft and fixed to rotate therewith, an instrument-having an indicator pivoted to move freely substantially about the axis of the' shaft, a clutch ball loosely suspended from the `indicator so as freely to follow the movement of the indicator and disposed between the clutch discs, a constantly rotating shaft, meansicontrolled at a predetermined position in the rotation of the constantly rotating shaft for sliding the slidable disc toward and from the xed disc to cause the discs to become first clutched together through the ball and then unclutched, and means controlled at a predetermined position in thel rotation of the constantly rotating shaft for periodically returning the ball with the discs clutched thereto to a neutral position after the ball has become displaced vfrom the neutral position in response to the pivotalv Y sliding the slidable disc toward and'. from the movement of the indicator.

7. A device of the class described comprising a shaft, a clutch disc fixed to the shaft, a second posed between the clutch discs, a constantly rotating shaft, meanscontrolled at a predetermined position in the rotation of the constantly rotating shaft for sliding the slidable disc toward andy from the fixed disc to cause the discs to become first clutched together through the ball and then unclutched, two levers, means'tending to maintain the levers separated, and means' controlled at a predetermined position in the rotationof the constantly rotating shaft formoving the levers toward' each other to enclose the ball between them and to move the ball with the discs clutched thereto to a neutral position after the ball has become displaced from the neutral position in response to the pivotal movement of the indicator.

8. A device of the class described comprising a shaft, a defiecting member movable freely ofl the shaft substantially about the axis of the shaft, means responsive to varying conditions for moving the member to varying degrees, and means for causing the turning of the shaft to a degree determined vby the degree of movement of the member.

9. A device of the class described comprising a shaft, a member pivoted to move freely of the shaft in opposite directions substantially about the axis of the shaft, means for moving the member in opposite directions about its pivot, and means for thereupon causing the turning of the shaft in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the member.

10. A device of the classl described comprising a shaft, a member pivoted to move freely of the shaft substantiallyY about the axis of the shaft, means responsive to varying conditions for moving the member about its pivot'to varying degrees, a constantly rotating shaft, and means controlled bythe constantly rotating shaft for causing the turning of the' first-named shaft to a degree predetermined by the degree of pivotal movement of the member.

11. AV device of the class described comprisxed disc to cause the discs to become first clutched together through the element and then unclutched, and means for periodically return-1 ing the element withthe discs clutched thereto to a neutralposition after the element has become displaced from the vneutral position in response to the pivotal movement of the deflecting member. i

WILLIAM HERBERT APTHORPE.

isc

DISCLAIMER l,940,834.-William Herbert Apthorpe, London, England. CONTROLLER. Patent dated December 26, 1933. Disclaimer filed October l0, 1934, by the assignee, Cambridge Instrument Oompa/ny, Limited.

Enters this disclaimer to claims l and 8 of said patent Which are in the following Words:

1. A device of the class described comprising a shaft, a member pivoted to rmove freely of the shaft substantially about the axis of the shaft, means responsive to varying conditions for moving the member about its pivot to varying degrees, and means for causing the turning of the shaft to a degree predetermined by the degree of pivotal movement of the member.

8. A device of the class described comprising a shaft, a deflecting member movable freely of the shaft substantially about the axis of the shaft, means responsive to varying conditions for moving the member to varying degrees, and means for causing the turning of the shaft to a degree determined by the degree of movement of the member.

[Ojcial Gazette October 30, 1934.] 

